Councillors approve 75 new homes in Somerset, raising concerns over local views and infrastructure.
Weston-super-Mare: So, there’s some big news about new homes being built in Somerset. They just approved plans for 75 new houses in a field near Worle. This has got a lot of folks worried about losing those beautiful views.
The developer, M7, got the green light to build right off Queen’s Way. It’s just across from another spot where they’re already putting up 70 homes. People are really concerned about all this development creeping up around Worlebury Hill.
One local guy, Arthur Willey, spoke up at the planning meeting. He called the field “heavenly” and said it’s too beautiful to destroy. He really didn’t want to see that view go away.
On the flip side, the developer’s rep, Francis Lennon, argued that the benefits of the new homes outweigh any downsides. But some local councillors are worried about the impact of all these new houses piling up.
Martin Williams, a local councillor, pointed out that Kewstoke is already getting 75 new homes. He thinks adding another 75 is just too much. It’s like, how much can one area take?
Mike Solomon, another councillor, mentioned that they’re in a tough spot. The government is pushing them to build more homes, and if they keep saying no to applications, they might lose control over future developments.
North Somerset Council has a target to hit—23,805 homes over 15 years. That’s a lot! Solomon warned that if they don’t meet this target, the government could step in and take over.
Some councillors, like Robert Payne, totally get why people are upset. He thinks the location isn’t great for new homes, being far from shops and schools. But he also said they don’t have a solid reason to turn it down since it meets planning policies.
Peter Bryant, another councillor, sympathized with the locals but reminded everyone that they have to think about the bigger picture. The UK’s population has grown a lot, and they need to find homes for everyone.
There were also worries about sewage capacity, with Chris Blades calling it a “catastrophe waiting to happen.” In the end, the committee voted 11-1 to approve the development, but they added a condition that the first home can’t be occupied until they confirm there’s enough sewage capacity.
These new housing targets were set by the Labour government last year. Some top councillors are worried that they might have to open up green belt land for development to meet these targets.
They’ll be putting the local plan back out for consultation soon, so folks can have their say on where new developments should go.
